Have the moonscapes of Milos or the seas around Santorini all to yourself. Flip Byrnes shares the ultimate Greek Islands experiences far from the touristy crowds.
If there’s one experience to splurge on when you visit Santorini, it’s a private charter with Renieris Santorini Sailing Centre. My captain, Eleftherios, explains the history of the island as we pass Akrotiri Lighthouse, Red Beach and nose onto a private mooring at volcanic Nea Kameni island.
The caldera may seem calm, but the islands of Santorini have not been silenced completely. Nea Kameni remains a live volcanic site (it has been dormant since 1950, having erupted eight times in 1900 years) and these islands continue to be pushed slowly out of the sea by the volcanic pressure below.
Author Flip Byrnes explores Oia.
A day on the water is a day where time pauses. There are no crowds here, ever, just the sizzle of fresh fish as sailor Petros barbeques on the catamaran’s aft.
If we were more time rich, we’d continue to Thirasia, so far east of the tourist track most don’t even know it exists. It’s also tempting to drop anchor in Santorini, permanently, but instead we heed Poseidon’s call and continue our sea odyssey to Milos. A two-hour sail west is Greece’s latest “it” island, a geological gem with supernatural rock forms and abandoned mines. This Cycladic island hasn’t hit the tourist heights of Santorini or Mykonis (yet), but was hurled into the publicity stratosphere when British Vogue started shooting here and Justin Bieber splashed down in 2021.
Stunning views! Beautifully quiet away from the hassle and a small walk into Oia centre literally 2 mins. Hire a quad if you want to mooch around the island.
If you looking to relax thought there isnt a better place on the island in my view.
Get a room with your own private pool. Dont think you'll ever need to move.
Grab a breakfast then go back and sunbath and enjoy the breath taking views from your room in your own infinity pool.
10/10. Dont look anywhere else.
10.0
AnonymousUS
Excellent
10.0
Vivian J.CA · 6 escapes · 1 review
My husband and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary at this gorgeous hotel. The food, service, room were all top notch. We loved our private hot tub (pro tip – if you go in October, you should get a hot tub room instead of a pool room so you can enjoy it even on chilly days). Shoutouts to Konstantinos (made our private dinner special and made an effort to get to know us), Manthos (bartender who knows how to make delicious drinks), Stela, Elefteria, and Tigran. The location was perfect – we watched the Oia sunset every night without the crowds and walked 3-5 min into Oia for dinner.
If you stay in Santo Pure, you can use the facilities in Santo Mines too. Santo Mines has an outdoor gym, which we took advantage of almost every day. Working out while looking into the ocean with fresh air – you can't get this at home. We left absolutely refreshed after an amazing vacation. Thanks to everyone at Santo Pure and we can't wait to come back one day!
There is nowhere quite as exotic as Milos, with colours ranging from ochre and blazing white to emerald waters and magma sunsets. And it has what Santorini doesn’t, stunning beaches: including the egg-shell-white moonscape of Sarakiniko (a mix of volcanic ash, sandstone and pumice) frozen into sea stacks, arches and caverns; Tsigrado beach (accessed by a rickety Flintstones-style ladder), and geothermal Paleochori where tavernas, like my favourite find Sirocco, offer stews cooked in clay pots buried in the sand overnight.
The fishing villages of Mandrakia and Klima are a delight. Brightly painted traditional houses known as syrmatas line the ancient tiny ports. The different colours of the houses act as homing beacons to the returning fishermen. On a sun-soaked afternoon you might see local boys diving from the quay in Mandrakia into the Aegean Sea, right next door to the sole restaurant Medusa (one of the island’s best) that serves fish straight from the fishermen’s baskets.
Tsigardo Beach. Image courtesy of Marketing Greece.
We set sail again to south coast gems you can only access by boat. Every cove is more thrilling than the last, culminating in a minuscule cavern with white-sand bottom, black lava underwater walls and a turquoise that needs to be seen to be believed. This cove, one of my Greek Island highlights, has no name and can only be found by using a local skipper.
In contrast is Paliorema Sulfur Mine, an abandoned oceanside quarry complete with rusted, iron rail tracks, stone buildings and leftover mounds of sulfur. It’s eerie but a tangible reminder of Milos’ history.
There’s one thing you won’t see in Milos, the marble Venus de Milo, now ensconced in the Louvre, that was found here in 1820. But who needs Venus when you have a volcanic wonderland?
We went for a couple calm trip –
And its was. Such a great hotel, nice stuff, great breakfast, good hospitality, very nice room with private pool.
I really recommend for people who want calm vacation. (Rent a car it’s a must)
10.0
AnonymousPL
amazing hotel with incredible staff that goes above and beyond to make sure you have a good stay. Everything is very well maintained and the breakfast was amazing and there was a pianist that added to the atmosphere.
10.0
Harrison S.GB · 1 escape · 1 review
Fantastic resort. Staff and service were exceptional, the spa was second to none, the food options for bars and restaurants were amazing. Highly recommend
10.0
Guy D.GB · 11 escapes · 4 reviews
Simply one of the best resort hotels I have ever stayed at.
Without doubt, they employ some of the most welcoming, helpful, lovely staff I've experienced in all my years of travelling, there was nothing they wouldn't do for you, and if they didn't know the immediate answer to a question they would shoot off and find out from a colleague, anything from bus timetables to what was in a particular salad dressing.
The rooms were immaculate, the gardens and walkways always clean and trimmed, the pool areas kept constantly clean and clear and the beach was pristen.
We always try and push on to the next place and the next place, simply to gain new experiences, but I would definitely consider returning for some R&R time to the Gennadi Grand Resort.
9.6
AnonymousUA
staff is amazing. very attentive, friendly and ready to help. the resort is luxurious and impressive. loved everything about it
This is an abridged version of the original article.Read the rest of this article on page 85 in the first issue of Dream by Luxury Escapes magazine. Get your copy here or see the digital edition here.
Hero image: Oia, Santorini. Courtesy of Marketing Greece.
